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7 Delicious Maltese Dishes That Deserve More Attention

Pastizzi, timpana, ħobż biż-żejt, patata l-forn – all champion Maltese dishes that get loads of attention and love. And for good reason – we would never contest their awesomeness.

But, there are a handful of Maltese recipes which are also beyond delicious and deserve just as much fawning over. These are some of our faves.

1. Qaqoċċ Mimli

(Stuffed artichokes)

This dish does require quite a bit of prep work, but once you dig in to the earthy, salty, artichoke goodness – it'll be worth it in a tremendous way. As with many Maltese dishes, there are a lot of variants to this recipe, but this one from Roots and Toots is pretty much what the typical dish is all about.

2. Froġa tat-Tarja

(Vermicelli omelette)

Froġa tat-tarja may remind a lot of us of the days when our parents were dead tired after a full day of work, and just wanted something easy AF to cook for the family. Well, this dish definitely serves up a quality bang for its buck. Okay, so it's probably a one way ticket to cholesterol-town; but as a once-in-a-while treat – very little hits the spot like that carby, buttery goodness.

3. Aljotta

(Fish soup)

Aljotta represents everything that's amazing about Malta. Seafood, garlic, carbs (when it includes rice), tomatoes, lemon – all of these combined make it one of the tastiest Maltese dishes around.

4. Torta Tal-Irkotta

(Ricotta pie)

We all love our individually-sized pastizzi, but when you amplify that goodness to a family-sized party... things get really special. This recipe is easy, heartwarming, and tastes like home. We love it.

5. Pulpetti tal-Pastard

(Cauliflower fritters)

If there's anything Maltese people are good at, it's taking a super-healthy ingredient, slapping as much fat and salt as is humanly possible onto it, and frying it until it hits its crispiest and goldenest potential. And with cauliflowers being so creamy and delicate, the textural contrast in this recipe is to-die-for.

6. Kwareżimal

(Lenten biscuits)

Our desserts typically get less love than our savoury dishes, but were here to wave a flag in their honour. Maltese sweets are unique, but none more so than the nutty goodness of kwareżimal. It's not everyone's favourite, but those of us who do love it, can't get enough of it.

7. Torta San Martin

(Cake for St Martin of Tours)

For all the dessert-addicts who love theirs fruity and nutty, this recipe is the king of them all. One bite is like an explosion of texture and flavour. Also reminds us of nanna, which is never a bad thing.